Bar Exam Practice Questions 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

The system that ensures that no branch of government gains too much power is the system of checks and balances. This framework is part of the broader structure of the U.S. Constitution, which was designed to prevent any one branch—executive, legislative, or judicial—from becoming too powerful. Each branch has specific powers that can limit the activities of the other branches. For example, the legislative branch creates laws, but the executive branch has the power to veto those laws. Meanwhile, the judicial branch can review laws and executive actions for constitutionality.

This interplay among the branches encourages cooperation and accountability, ensuring that power is distributed effectively within the government. The purpose of checks and balances is to maintain a balance of power that protects democratic governance and civil liberties.

While the other options relate to governmental structure, they serve different functions. Federalism refers to the division of power between national and state governments. Popular sovereignty emphasizes that government is created and sustained by the consent of its people. The separation of powers describes the division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent any one group from exercising the core functions of government. Each of these plays a critical role in governance, but it is the system of checks and balances that specifically ensures no branch can dominate the others.